RCSI Medical University of Bahrain
RCSI Medical University of Bahrain (RCSI Bahrain) aims to enhance health in Bahrain, the GCC region and beyond, through endeavour, innovation and collaboration in education, research and service.
Advancing surgical training
The Royal Medical Services (RMS) signed an exclusive cooperation agreement with RCSI for residency and fellowship programmes in surgery dedicated to RMS resident physicians. The agreement was signed in Dublin at the December meeting of the Board of Governors of RCSI Bahrain.
The agreement establishes a joint training programme for residency and fellowship programmes in various surgical specialties aligned with international standards including the British and Irish specialised fellowships and the Intercollegiate Surgical Curriculum Programme.
The collaboration is a significant milestone in developing professional competencies, improving medical performance and upholding national and international standards to improve healthcare quality in Bahrain.
Developing infectious diseases capacity
Professor Manaf Alqahtani, Clinical Professor and Head of Microbiology at RCSI Bahrain, is leading efforts to strengthen Bahrain’s infectious diseases preparedness and expertise. Prof. Alqahtani has been instrumental in shaping national strategies for antimicrobial stewardship, infection surveillance, outbreak readiness and vaccine deployment with a vision to cultivate a locally rooted, culturally attuned workforce to lead these activities.
A significant milestone came in December 2024 with the launch of Bahrain’s first National Fellowship in Infectious Diseases. This programme will sustain a pipeline of specialists capable of tackling antimicrobial resistance and pandemic preparedness. To date, five RCSI Bahrain graduates have joined the Fellowship.
Following Bahrain’s endorsement of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, Professor Alqahtani’s leadership positions the country to respond decisively and independently to global health challenges.
New academic building
Construction of a 7,912 sqm academic building began in July 2024 following a foundation stone-laying ceremony. The project includes purpose-built, sustainable spaces, including active learning environments, simulation and clinical skills centres, research zones and a conferring hall. The new spaces aim to enrich the student experience, support teaching excellence and foster interdisciplinary research.
By summer 2025, substructure works were completed, and superstructure works are underway with completion on track for the 2025-26 academic year. The project surpassed 500,000 safe working hours without a Lost Time Injury, reflecting the commitment of RCSI Bahrain and site partners to maintaining the highest safety standards.
Institutional review
RCSI Bahrain was awarded ‘Compliant with the General Framework Standards’ with seven commendations in its latest review by the Bahrain Education and Training Quality Authority in collaboration with the Higher Education Council, affirming academic and administrative alignment with the general framework standards.
Diabetes Mobile Unit awards
Since its launch in 2012, the Diabetes Mobile Unit (DMU) – a collaboration with the Bahrain Diabetes Society and the Rotary Club of Manama, with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health – has reached over 7,700 children, improving awareness of healthy lifestyles and diabetes prevention. It also prepares medical and nursing students as future health advocates.
This year, the DMU received two prestigious honours including first place as ‘Best Bahraini Voluntary Project’ at a national awards ceremony for voluntary work and an Honourable Mention from the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities and the MacJannet Foundation for community health engagement and student leadership.
Collaborative research on diabetic skin ulcers
RCSI Bahrain is collaborating with the RMS, RCSI’s Tissue Engineering Research Group and the Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research (AMBER) to explore biomaterials to improve the healing of diabetic skin ulcers. Led by Professor Michael Keogh and Dr Martin Maresch, the research has demonstrated improved healing through increased blood vessel formation and reduced scarring of tissue when compared to currently used dressings.
The team has secured funding via Enterprise Ireland to develop a further wound product for Irish industry.
New AI tool to aid students’ learning
In partnership with Bahrain’s Labour Fund ‘Tamkeen’ and K-Labs Technology Solutions, RCSI Bahrain is developing an innovative ‘AI-powered Virtual Sim Patient’ solution. This cutting-edge tool utilises a large language model and advanced AI to simulate medical case studies and enhance students’ clinical reasoning and history-taking skills.
Over 100 medical, surgical and nursing health assessment cases have been embedded in the application to date. Beta testing is scheduled for September 2025, with launch planned during the second semester of the 2025-26 academic year.